President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has officially inaugurated Kudagiri Picnic Island. The inauguration ceremony was also attended by Vice President Faisal Naseem, First Lady Fazna Ahmed, government officials, and heads of state-owned enterprises.
Developing a designated picnic island for the residents of the Greater Malé Region is a pledge of the administration. In November 2021, the relevant government agencies started working together to develop a special island for picnics. The master plan of the picnic island was developed by Housing Development Corporation (HDC). As part of the efforts, eight hectares of land were reclaimed by the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) for the development of the picnic island. The utility services of the island were developed jointly by Male’ Water and Sewerage Company Private Limited (MWSC), Fenaka Corporation Limited, and State Electric Company Limited (STELCO).
Kudagiri Picnic Island includes features such as cafes, huts, bathrooms, beaches, and many other public services, ease of access, and services for disabled persons. The public will be able to travel to the island for free on weekends, and it features recreational options, including futsal and volleyball courts, water slides, and a children's park. The island also has a mosque, changing rooms, retail shops, barbecue pits, and huts, in addition to safety and security measures.
HDC has formulated special policies to travel to the island. HDC said although arrangements have been made for music and games, loud noise during prayer times is prohibited. HDC urged visitors to wear appropriate clothing and for individuals to use the designated areas for smoking. Visitors are also banned from bringing in single-use plastic.
HDC made bookings available on February 9 for 300 visitors to travel to Kudagiri Picnic Island for its official opening day although 500-600 visitors can be accommodated at once. Visitors will not be charged for travel to Kudagiri Picnic Island on weekends and public holidays. The decision to not charge fees during the holidays is to facilitate the public and allow as many travelers as possible to Kudagiri. Locals travelling to the island are required to pay USD1.6 per individual for the ferry and the entrance fee is USD3.2. However, children under 12 will be charged half these prices. Visitors arriving on a personal transport vessel will have to pay USD16-33. Visitors can also book beds while purchasing tickets via the Kudagiri application. Beds can be booked for USD16-78, depending on the type of bed and period of stay. Bookings can also be made for special events such as weddings, birthday parties, and cooperate gatherings.